Maddie Baillio News

They rank among the top high school-age vocalists in the nation, hailing from Los Angeles, Portland, Houston, Miami, New York City, Detroit, St. Louis and right here in central Indiana. For one week this summer, they will experience a rigorous, exciting, expert-led introduction to the world of professional performing arts.

NBC's HAIRSPRAY LIVE! was the recipient of seven Emmy nominations. Below, check out colorful images from the live broadcast featuring Emmy-nominated set designs, costumes, make-up, hairstyles and more, along with video which illustrates why HAIRSPRAY LIVE! was worthy of yesterday's high honors!

Among the potential EMMY nominees this year may be HAIRSPRAY LIVE! standouts Kristin Chenoweth, who took on the role of Velma Von Tussle in the NBC live broadcast, and Jennifer Hudson, who portrayed Motormouth Maybelle.

The stars and creative team of 'HAIRSPRAY LIVE!' reunited for a panel discussion and special performances on Friday, June 9, 2017 at the Saban Media Center at the Television Academy, North Hollywood.

Jennifer Hudson is once again taking the world by storm as she blows the roof off of venues with her rendition of 'I Know Where I've Been,' which she first performed as part of NBC's 'Hairspray Live!' This time she took the stage at an FYC event at the Television Academy, check out the video below!

They rank among the top high school-age vocalists in the nation, hailing from Los Angeles, Portland, Houston, Miami, New York City, Detroit, St. Louis and right here in central Indiana. For one week this summer, they will experience a rigorous, exciting, expert-led introduction to the world of professional performing arts.

Just a few months ago, Kristin Chenoweth was complaining about the new girl and singing about her time as Miss Baltimore Crabs as Velma Von Tussle in NBC's HAIRSPRAY LIVE! Now she has joined producer Neil Meron to reminisce about the experience with BroadwayWorld and SAG-AFTRA Foundation. Check out the full interview below!

LA's Center Theatre Group celebrated its 50th Anniversary with a plethora of performance stars including Jennifer Hudson who took the stage at the gala event and performed one of her most show-stopping numbers from Hairspray Live, 'I Know Where I've Been.'

Jennifer Hudson recently sat down with GoldDerby to have a conversation about what it was like taking on the iconic role of Motormouth Maybelle in NBC's Hairspray Live. Hudson describes the role as deeply empowering and very relevant to times today. She also touches on the difficulties in taking on a role that so many greats have played before her and how she brought her own experiences into the character. Check out the full interview for more.

On Monday, May 22 (6PM) SAG-AFTRA Foundation and BroadwayWorld will host a special screening of Hairspray Live! followed by a Q&A with Kristin Chenoweth and Executive Producer Neil Meron. Moderated by BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge, the event will take place at the Robin Williams Center (247 W 54th St).

Ella Fitzgerald is turning 100 and to celebrate her life and legacy, the DC Youth Orchestra Program (DCYOP) and The American Pops Orchestra (APO) are partnering once again. The two organizations will bring some of Fitzgerald's greatest hits to the DC community with free outdoor performances in two iconic DC parks.

Michael Feinstein, Jazz at Lincoln Center's Director of the Jazz & Popular Song series, brings back American Songbook classics for the sixth consecutive year. The second concert of the Jazz & Popular Song series,  this performance is a dedication to Mel Torme, an iconic songwriter called the 'Velvet Fog' in reference to his enchantingly smooth voice. Torme was a remarkable singer with the soothing sound of a classic crooner, deep musical sophistication, and emotional intensity in his treatment of melody.

The Paley Center for Media has announced the worldwide premiere of You Can't Stop the Beat: The Art & Artistry of Hairspray Live!, an exciting new feature exhibit. Opening April 22, 2017 at the Paley Center's Beverly Hills location, the exhibit runs through May 21, 2017.

The Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDC Foundation), the not-for-profit foundation of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), hosted its star-studded 'Mr. Abbott' Award Gala honoring Kenny Leon at espace in New York City yesterday, March 27. BroadwayWorld was there and brings you photos from the cocktail party below!

Jess here.  Last summer I had the opportunity to spend a week in Carmel, Indiana with 39 of the most talented teens I've ever met.  What happens in Carmel, you ask…?  THE SONGBOOK ACADEMY!  Now in its eighth season, the Songbook Academy is an annual week long summer music intensive designed for teens who are passionate about the music of the Great American Songbook.  Michael Feinstein, the multi-platinum-selling, two-time Emmy and five-time Grammy Award-nominated entertainer founded the Great American Songbook Foundation in 2007.  Each year he helms the program, and brings Broadway actors, Grammy and Emmy winners, and faculty from collegiate arts music programs to work alongside him in educating students about the rich history, songs and composers associated with the Great American Songbook. 

Skeptics of musical theater like to ask, 'But how do they know the song?' when characters join in during a musical number. One of the virtues of HAIRSPRAY is that the audience itself actually does this: the songs are so catchy that we start singing along. This is appropriate, given the show's message of inclusivity and empowerment of the ordinary. Marc Shaiman (music and lyrics) and Scott Wittman (lyrics) are responsible for the irresistible score of this show, set in Baltimore in the 1960s, that follows plucky, overweight teenager Tracy Turnblad's quest to integrate the 'Corny Collins Show,' an AMERICAN BANDSTAND-style teen dance party that she adores. Along the way, she falls in love with one of its stars, locks horns with another, makes new friends who are black and have a different perspective and a different way of dancing, and finds a place for herself on the show and in life. And her mother Edna and best friend Penny also benefit from Tracy's widening world.

Last night, NBC aired an encore telecast of HAIRSPRAY LIVE! The broadcast delivered a 0.5/2 rating in the 18-49 demographic as well as 2.5 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET.

Can't get enough of HAIRSPRAY LIVE!? Then tune in to NBC for a reprise telecast of the musical on Monday, December 26th from 8-11 p.m. ET!

The gratitude and nostalgia run deep for the cast of Hairspray Live!, who are continuing to share their thoughts about the special experience on social media. Today, Jennifer Hudson (Motormouth Maybelle) posted an Instagram of her with the live musical's producers, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, thanking them for believing in her and giving her an opportunity to be a part of Hairspray Live! On the heels of her post, we received a mega thank you photo of the entire cast and members of the creative team. One thing's for sure: we'll be feeling the beat from Hairspray Live! for some time to come!

The Great American Songbook Foundation has launched the nationwide application process for its 2017 Songbook Academy, a summer music and performance intensive for high school students led by Foundation founder and five-time Grammy Award nominee Michael Feinstein.